Farm building



June 1s, 1953 B. G. PERKINS 2,641,988

-FARM BUILDING Filed Aug. 1, 1949' .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 B.G. PERKINS FARM BUILDING VIII.

June 16, 1953 Filed Aug. 1, 1949 B. G. PERKINS- FARM BUILDING Jupe 16,1953 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1, 1949 Patented June 16, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDING Beinen c. Perkins', Kirkwua..Mo.',lassgi16 tis Doae'Agricultural Service, Inc.,V St: Louis; Mo.;

a. corporation of Missouri2 Application August 1, 1949,seris1b.1T0`7,8`7"'7V (ci. 98:52u

7 Cla'imsi 1 This invention relates tatami buildings and moreyparticularly to farmbuildings for storing and drying grain, hay, orthe'like, and for other purposes.

The principal object of the invention is theV provision of alow-costmulti-p'urpose farm building, particularly adapted for storingand drying ear corn, small' grain, orfhay or the like, and also adaptedequally well for use as a machine shed or live stock-shed, or for acombina'- tion of such uses. As related to the storing and drying of`ear corn, the invention is an improvement upon the conventional corncrib, being adapted to permit the farmer economically to raiselate-maturing-hybrid corn, from which high yields can be obtained, andreadily to harvest, storeand drytheA crop.y Heretofore, there has beenno satisfactory way for the farmer economically to raise late-maturing.hybrid corn andobtain the benetof its highyield. Such corn, at maturity,has a relatively high moisture content. In modern practice the crop isquickly harvestedby mechanical-pickers, usually in a matter ofl weeks,and large quantities must be quickly cribbed. Usuallyweather-conditionsare .such at the best har-vest time for late-maturing hybrids that thecrop cannot be satisfactorily dried simply bystoringit inconventionalcorn cribs, dependingon natural air-drying. Due to therapidity of Aharvesting by mechanical pickers, the cribs are filled;quick-1y, and there is no opportunity to permit the cornto dry bygradually illing` thev cribs. Field-dryinglof late-maturing hybrids isalso unsatisfactory. Corn b or'ers weaken the corn stalkaan'd if thecorn is left to dry inthe field too long,v they a-re 'apt to be brokenbyv winds, andthe ears are apt to drop. This requires the eld tol becleaned after-the harvest-by the corn picker, and mayv result inconsiderable loss.

This invention provides aflow-costfarm building particularly for use asa cornV crib Afor storage and drying, wherein late-maturing hybrid corn,harvested at maturity, .may-be ystored and properly dried under control,despite the'weathger. With the building ofthisinvention, late-maturinghybrid corn may be harvested soon after the end of the growing period,when the moisture content of the stalks andfshucksis such thatmechanical corn pickers Acan harvest cleanly.- The construction of the`building is such that the harvested corn may be stored the building in anatural pile or heap, and dried by forcinga draft ofair through thepile. Construction features of the buildingaare such that itfmayfbeerected levi/ lt has a low-cost pole frame and rOQistructure, the latterprotecting the corn in storagefrom rain and snow. An important featureofthe construction is the provision of readily I jernovable sides, whichmay be quickly re,- moved to adapt the building for -use as a machineshed or live stock shed, for hay storage, or other fuses.v Other"features will bey in part apparent and inl part pointedout hereinafter.

The invention accordinglycomprises the elements'and'conibinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements' of parts whichwill beexemplifiedin the structures hereinafter described, andthe scopeof the application of which will beindicated in the following claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which severalofvarious"possible'einbodimentsof the invention are illustrated,

lFjig l is aperspective' of a building embodying the features'of'theinvention, partsv being broken away and s how'nl in section;

Eig. 2 is Yan end view of the'building, with parts braken away,

Fig'. 3 is av side elevation;

Fig; 4 is avertical transverse cross section;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedI fragmentary vertical transverse cross section;

A fig`. 6` is a fragme tary perspective illustratingV certain raftersupports@ Fig. v' 7 is an velevation of an assembly ofremovablefsidewa'll pa"; f1'els; `Y

nig. 9 is a p rspective of a'tun'nei in the buildlng;

Figl4 1 0 'is av vertical transversicross 'section of thetunn'el;

Efigfllis'an elevation of a'tunnel side section;

Eiig'.' 12 isa plan of an assembly of tunnel top sections;

Eig. 1 3 is a v detail perspective', with parts broken awy and shown insection, of a fan mounting; an

l ig 1 4 isa perspective illustrating a'modied tyfDOf 'removable sideWall panels.

Similarreference'characters indicate correspondingpartslthroughouttheseveral viewsV of the drawingsl" Referring to'r the" drawings,Vrir'st more particularly to E igs.' 1 -4, affarrn building structureincorporating the features ofthe invention is designated l. in itsentirety. The building has areinforced concrte foundation 3' comprisinga oor- 5 and a frost wall 1 eited'ing down Ainto Vcutting the purlins.

3 The latter is shown as poured on a vapor seal laid on a ll I3,preferably of gravel. The building is of wooden pole frame constructionand comprises corner poles I5, side poles I1, end poles I9 and 2|, andinterior poles 23. The poles preferably are chemically treated to resistdecay. They are set in the ground prior to pouring the concretefoundation and become embedded in the concrete. The side poles I'I arespaced at equal intervals between the corner poles and divide thebuilding into transverse bays .25. As shown, there are three side polesil between the corner poles I5 at each side of the building dividing itinto four bays. The end poles I9 are spaced equal distances on theopposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the building and theend poles 2| are set midway between the respective end poles I9 andcorner poles I5. The poles |9 and 2| at each end of the building are intransverse alignment with the corner poles I at the respective end. Theinterior poles 23 are transversely aligned with the side poles andlongitudinally aligned with the end poles I9. The end poles I9 and theinterior poles 23 define an aisle 2`| extending centrally from one endof the building to the other.

The poles support a gable roof structure 2S comprising rafters 3| and33, purlins 35, and corrugated sheet metal roofing 3l. The rafters, attheir outer and lower ends, rest on inside and outside rafter supports39 and 4| (Figs. 5 and 6) respectively. The inside rafter supports 39consist of timbers nailed to the insides of the corner poles I5 and theside poles Il' adjacent the upper ends of the poles. ports 4| consist ofsmaller timbers nailed to the outsides of the corner poles I5 and theside poles I`| adjacent the upper ends of the poles. Adjacent theirupper ends, the rafters rest on longitudinal rafter supports 43 (Figs. 1and 4) consisting of timbers nailed to the end poles I9 and interiorpoles 23 adjacent their upper ends. The upper ends of each pair ofrafters meeting at the ridge of the roof are over-lapped and nailedtogether as indicated at 45 (Fig. 4). There is no ridgepole. Thiseliminates any necessity for accurately cutting the rafters to lengthand simplifies construction. They are simply set and nailed in place.

Rafters 3| are located at the corner and side poles and are nailed tothese poles. Rafters 33 are located midway between the poles. are nailedto rafter blocks 4'! set between the inside and outside rafter supports39 and 4| midway between the poles. Supports 39 and 4| are boltedtogether as indicated at 49. The bolts extend through timber spacers 5Iwhich, with supports 39 and 4|, form an H-beam, the spacers 5| formingthe web of the beam and being horizontal. The blocks 4'! rest on and arenailed to these spacers. The purlins 35 are somewhat longer than twicethe spacing of the rafters. They are set on edge on the rafters withtheir ends overlapping, as indicated at 53. This overlapped arrangementeliminates any necessity for The sheet metal roofing 3i is laid on thepurlins. Openings 55 are provided in the roofing. These openings areprovided with corrugated sheet metal covers or caps 51. Any bay may beiilled with corn or other grain through a roof opening, to cause thecorn or other grain to pile up in the bay in a more or less naturalconical pile.

As illustrated, a tunnel 6| extends centrally and longitudinally of thebuilding through the The outside rafter sup- These aisle 2'| from oneend thereof to the other. Corn falling into the bays through the roofopenings 55 piles up over and alongside of the tunnel in more or lessconical natural piles. Within the tunnel adjacent one end of thebuilding is a fan 58 (Fig. 8) adapted to draw in air through theadjacent open end of the tunnel and blow it through the tunnel. Theother end of the tunnel is closed by a door 55.

The tunnel 9|, which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 8-13, isrectangular in cross section, having sides @l and a top 39. The floor 5forms its bottom. Each side 6l is made up of individual sections 7|(Fig. l1), one in each bay, each section being as long as the unitlongitudinal spacing of the interior poles 23. Each section 1I comprisesa floor board T3 and a series of vertical studs I5 extending up from thefloor board. To the outer edges of the studs are nailed spaced apart,longitudinal, horizontal side boards 1?. A plywood panel 'I9 is nailedto the inner edges of the studs and the inner edge of the oor board.Inner and outer longitudinal head boards 9| and 33 are nailed to theinner and outer edges of the studs at their upper ends. A board nailedto the inside edges of the studs closes a space between the upper edgeof the plywood panel i9 and the inner head board 8|. The side sections|I are slid into place at the sides of the aisle 2l on the inside of thepoles I9 and 23. They are removably retained in position at the sides ofthe aisle between the inside of the poles and retainers 81 set in theconcrete door 5. The retainers are low in height (about two inches high,for example) and have rounded edges for a purpose to be mentioned. Asshown they consist of a U-shaped length of pipe, set in the concrete ininverted position. The top 69 of the tunnel 6| is made up of individualrectangular sections 89 (Fig. l2), three in each bay, each panel havinga length corresponding to the width of the tunnel and a widthcorresponding to one-third the unit longitudinal spacing of the interiorpoles 23. Each section comprises a frame including boards 9| set on edgeand extending transversely of the tunnel. To the bottom edges of thesetransverse boards are nailed two boards 93 extending longitudinally ofthe tunnel. The boards 93 are transversely spaced apart to fit withinthe top of the tunnel between the head boards 8|. A plywood closurepanel 95 is removably attached to the bottoms of the boards one side ofthe panel fitting in a groove 91 defined by a board 98 and a spacingbatten 99, its other side being held up by a pivoted latch |99. Topboards are laid on the upper edges of the transverse boards 9| extendinglongitudinally and spaced apart transversely. Side boards |93 extendacross the ends of the transverse boards 9|, the latter resting looselyland removably on the head boards 8| and 83 of the tunnel sides.

The top E9 of the tunnel is made up of smaller sections than the sidesections of the tunnel for ease in installing and removing. It will benoted that while the side sections may be slid into or out of place, thetop sections 89 must be lifted into place, and lowered for removal.Making them relatively small reduces the weight that has to be lifted orlowered and facilitates installation and removal. The plywood panels 95are removable to provide openings through the top of the tunnel forescape of air to flow through corn piled on and alongv side the tunnelfor drying purposes.- The spacing of the tunnel side boards 11 and topboards IOI is such that ears of corn cannot fall through. Panels 19close the tunnel sides and prevent air from escaping therethrough. Theyalso brace and strengthen the side sections.

The fan 51 is mounted in a rectangular frame |02 (Figs. 8 and 13). Thisframe slips into guideways at the sides of the tunnel formed by pairs ofboards |05 nailed to the insides of the tunnel side sections. The framerests on the floor 5. The fan is driven by an electric motor |01 boltedto the floor.

The ends of the building, except for the ends of the tunnel, are closedin by siding I| I. Door openings |I3 may be provided in the ridges ofthe building, closed by doors II5. The sides of the building are closedin by removable rectangular side panelsv I I1 (Figs. 5 and 7). Each ofthese panels has a width corresponding to one-fourth the spacing of theside poles I1 and a height such as to extend somewhat higher than thelower edges of the rafter supports 39 and 4I. Each panel |I1, asillustrated, comprises three vertical studs I|9. Nailed to the outsideedges of the studs at their lower ends is a base board |2|. Nailed tothe outside edges of the studs adjacent but lower than their upper endsis a head board |23. This is located at such a height as to fit justunder the inner rafter y support 39. Between the base board I2I and thehead board |23, beveled siding boards are nailed to the outside edges ofthe studs. The siding boards extend horizontally and are spaced apartvertically at intervals such that ears of corn cannot fall between them.At the upper end of each panel IIT is a key |21 positioned to extendupward on the outside of the inner rafter support 39 between the latterand the outer rafter support 4|. of a board nailed to the outside of thehead board |23 through a spacer strip |29 and extending above the headboard. The panel may be braced by a board |28 nailed horizontally acrossthe inside edges of the studs about midway of the height of the panel.

The side panels |I1 are set in place closing the sides of the buildingby bringing them into upright position inside the building, tilting themto enter the key boards |21 between the inner and outer rafter supports39 and 4I, and then sliding their lower ends outward until they engageretainers or stops |30. The latter are identical with the previouslydescribed retainers 81. They prevent the side panels from being pushedoutward by corn in storage. The lower margin of the inner rafter support39 is in keying engagement with the upper ends of the panels between thekey boards |21 and the upper ends of the studs I I9 and prevents theupper ends of the. side panels from being pushed either in or out.

If the building is used continually for corn storage, Sheller trenchesI3I, one on each side of the tunnel, may be provided in the floor 5.These extend longitudinally from one end of the building to the other.The sides of the trench are recessed at the top, as indicated at |33, toreceive removable floor boards ush with the oor. The trenchesaccommodate a drag or conveyor for removing ears of corn. If thebuilding is not to be used continually for corn storage, the trenchesmay be omitted. Corn may be removed by entering a drag in the tunnel 6|land removing the necessaryl top plywood panels 95 and a number of thetunnel top The key consists 6 boards |0I to allow ears of corn to fallinto the tunnel. Under these circumstances, a number of the top boardsIBI are not nailed down so that they may be readily removed even thoughcorn is piled up over the tunnel. A loose board would be worked back andforth until one end could be drawn down into the tunnel, thus permittingcomplete removal of the board from within the tunnel although ears ofcorn are piled over the tunnel.

For drying and storing corn, the corn is piled over and around thetunnel 5I by dropping it into the building through the roof openings 55.This may be done with portable elevators. The corn piles up over andalongside the tunnel in natural pile formation. In effect, the buildingstructure provides an enclosure (sides and a roof) for a natural pile ofcorn with an air duct throughV the pile. To dry the corn, the top of thetunnel is opened to provide air outlet apertures for escape of air fromthe tunnel to flow through the pile by removing as many of the removabletop plywood closure panels as may be necessary to obtain the best iiowof air through the pile for drying purposes. In practice, the tunnel ismade large enough to enter to remove orreplace the panels. The two topsections 89 at the ends of the tunnel may have their plywood closurepanels 95 nailed in place, rather than being made removable, to prohibitair movement through these sections and thereby limit by-passing of airat the ends of the building. Dried corn may be removed through thesheller trench, or through the tunnel, as previously described. With thecorn piled in natural pile formation, the end walls and side wall panelsare not required to resist any substantial horizontal thrust, and hencemay be made of lighter, less expensive construction than if required toresist such thrust. This represents a considerable advantage over priorcorn cribs which are completely lled so that their side and end wallsmust be made of heavy timbers heavily braced to resist horizontalthrust.

The building may be used for storing small grain, such as wheat, oats,barley, etc., by lining the side wall panels and the tunnel sectionswith asphalt paper, wire screen or the like, The tune nel sections maybe removed :from one or more or all of the bays to adapt part or all ofthe build ing for use as a machine shed or alive stock shed. The use ofthe U-shaped'pipe retainers 81 and |30 is advantageous under suchcircumstances as vehicles may be driven over them without damage andthey will not injure the feet of live stock. The structure may also beused for storage and tdrying of hay, using the tunnell for airdistribuion.

Fig. 14 illustrates a modied side wall panel construction adapted foruse where it may be desired to have open-construction side walls on bothsides of the building under some circumstances and solid side walls onone side of the building under other circumstances. Side wall panelsdesignated I4I in Fig. 14 are used for the purpose. Each of rtheseconsists of a series of vertical siding members or studs |43 heldtogether by horizontal boards |45 nailed to the edges of the studs onone side. The studs are spaced apart at intervals corresponding to theirwidths so that the studs of one panel may t closely between the studs ofanother panel to make a solid wall section.` Such panels areconveniently made by assembling a group of studs engaging one anotherside-by-side, nailing boards M to every other stud on one side of thegroup, and nailing other boards |55 to the remaining studs on the otherside of the group. In each panel, the studs are speced at intervals suchas to prevent ear corn from falling through. The panels may be linedwith screen to hold small grain.

ln view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope .of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A farm building comprising a concrete floor, a pele' frame comprisingpoles set in the fioor at the corners and along the sides and ends ofthe building and interiorly of the building defining an aisle extendingfrom one end of the building to the other. the corner and side polesdening bays extending transversely of the building, a roof supported bythe poles provided with openings, an air distribution tunnel extendingthrough the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sections extending at thesides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on the i'locr and held inplace between the sides of the poles and retainers xed in the floor, andtop sections loosely resting on the upper edges of the side sections,each top section being cf open-construction and provided with a closurepanel on its bottom, the closure Vpanels fer at least some of the topsections being removable from inside the tunnel, each tunnel sidesection extending the full width of each bay and each tunnel top sectionextending a fraction of the width of each bay.

2. A farm building comprising a concrete floor, a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the floor at the corners and along the sides and ends ofthe building and interiorly of the building deining an aisle extendingfrom one end of the building to the other, the corner and side polesdefining bays extending transversely of the building, a roof supportedby the poles provided with openings, an air distribution tunnelextending through the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sectionsextending at the sides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on thefloor and held in place between the insides of the poles and retainersfixed in the floor, and top sections loosely resting on the upper edgesof the side sections, each retainer comprising a pipe bent to U-shapeand set in the concrete floor in inverted position.

3. A farm building comprising a concrete ioor, ,a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the floor at ythe corners and along the sides and ends ofthe 'building and interiorly of the building defining .an aisleextending from one end of the building -to the other, the corner andside poles defining bays extending transversely of the building, a roofsupported by the poles provided with openings, an air distributiontunnel extending through the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sectionextending at the sides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on the oorand held in place be- ,tween the insides of the poles and retainersfixed in the oor, and top sections loosely resting on the upper edges ofthe side sections, and open- .construction removable side wall sectionsfor the building, said side wall sections resting at their l lower endson the floor, and removably keyed to .the building frame at their upperends. the outside of the lower ends of the side wall sections engagingagainstretainers xed in the floor.

4. A farm building comprising a concrete oor, a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the oor at the corners and along the sides and ends of thebuilding and interiorly of the building defining an aisle extending fromone end of the building to the other, the corner and side poles definingvbays extending transversely of the building, a roof supported by thepoles provided with openings, an air distribution tunnel extendingthrough the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sections extending at thesides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on the floor and held inplace between the insides of the poles and retainers fixed in the iloor,and top sections loosely resting on the upper edges of the sidesections, and open-construction removable side wall sections for thebuilding, said side wall sections resting at their lower ends on thefloor, and removably keyed to the building frame at their upper ends,the outside of the lower ends ci the side wall sections engaging againstretainers xed in the floor, each of said retainers comprising a pipebent to U-shape and set in the concrete iloor in inverted position.

5. A farm building comprising a concrete door, a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the floor at the corners and along the sides and ends ofthe building and interiorly of the building dening an aisle extendingfrom one end of the building to the other, the corner and side polesdening bays extending transversely of the build ing, a roof supported bythe poles provided with openings, an air distribution tunnel extendingthrough the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sections extending at thesides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on the floor and held inplace between the insides ci the poles and retainers xed in the floor,and top sections loosely resting on the upper edges of the sidesections, the roof being a gable roei comprising rafters, purlins androofing, the outer ends of the rafters being supported by raftersupports carried by the upper ends of the corner and side poles, theinner and upper ends of each pair .of rafters meeting at the ridge ofthe roof being overlapped and fastened together, the .purlins being seton edge on the rafters with their ends overlapping.

6. A farm building comprising a concrete floor, a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the floor at the corners and along the sides and ends ofthe `building and. interiorly or" the building defining an aisleextending from one end of the building to the other, the corner and sidepoles dening bays extending transversely of the building, a roofsupported by the poles provided with openings, an air distributiontunnel extending through the aisle, said tunnel comprising side sectionsextending at the sides of the aisle from pole to pole resting on the oorand held in place between the insides of the poles and retainers nxed inthe floor, and top sectionsy loosely resting on the upper edges of theside sections, the roof being a gable roof comprising rafters, purlinsand roofing, the outer ends of the rafters being supported by raftersupports carried by the upper ends of the corner and side poles, theinner and upper ends of each pair of rafters meeting at the ridge of theroof being overlapped and fastened together, the purlins being set onedge on the rafters with their ends overlapping, and openconstructionremovable side wall sections for the building, said side wall sectionsresting at ltheir lower ends on the floors and being removably keyed attheir upper ends to the rafter supports.

. the outsides Aof the lower ends of the side wall sections-engagingagainst retainers fixed in the iloor.

7. A farm building comprising a concrete floor, a pole frame comprisingpoles set in the floor at the corners and along the sides and ends ofthe building and interiorly of the building dening an aisle extendingfrom one end of the building to the other, the corner and side polesdening bays k1f) extending transversely of the building, a roofsupported by the poles provided with openings, an.

air distribution tunnel extending through the aisle, said tunnelcomprising side sections extending at the sides of the aisle from poleto pole resting on the oor and held in place between the insides of thepoles and retainers fixed in the iloor, and top sections loosely restingon the upper edges of the side sections, and open-construction therebyto form solid Wall sections on said other side of the building.

BERNON G. PERKINS.

References Cited in the ille 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 324,456 Carskadon Aug. 18, 1885 1,005,983 Larch Oct. 17, 19111,043,624 Parker i Nov. 5, 1912 1,256,677 French Feb. 19, 191|81,421,299 Palen June 27, 1922 1,431,046 Robertson Oct. 3, 1922 1,470,298Straight Oct. 9, 1923 1,673,788V Hobson June 12, 1928 2,000,102. ShodronMay 7, 1935 2,142,692 Kupp'ers Jan. 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 81,175Y Switzerland June 16, 1919 l52,423 Sweden Nov. 8,1929 OTHER REFERENCES Barn Haydrier, Agricultural EngineeringPublication No. 6; Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tennessee,April 1945, reprinted June 1945. Pages 21 and 51 relied on.

